Have you ever worked alongside someone who was incredibly special but, somehow over time, you lost your appreciation for just how special that person truly is? We all have people who come into our lives, make an impact, stay, and then somehow become a routine part of our day-to-day existence. But every now and then we have an experience that reminds us of how incredible that person is. I was fortunate to have one of those experiences last week with our CEO, Barb Crowley.

Over the years I have come to understand that Barb’s family name is part of the very foundation of the insurance industry. I have heard legendary stories about Barb’s father Bob Hoefer and his insistent passion for sales and dynamic personality. I have often heard terms like “grew up in this industry” and “for more than 50 years” but never fully appreciated their significance until last week.

I was fortunate to have a front-row seat for Barb’s presentation at the annual convention for NAILBA. For those who don’t know, NAILBA is the premier organization in the life insurance industry for the independent brokerage channel. Its history is rich and its accomplishments are great. Barb has served as chairman of the organization over the past year. As her term approached an end, Barb reflected on not only her time at the top, but her life in the industry. Hearing her stories about family, friends who’ve become family, and the circumstances that brought these people into our industry was absolutely amazing. Barb’s words gave me a deeper understanding of the people who created the insurance industry and inspired me to continue carrying out its traditions.

Barb’s father created an incredibly solid foundation for Brokers Clearing House and Barb has worked hard to ensure that her father’s legacy continues to thrive in a constantly changing environment. As if that weren’t enough responsibility, she gives countless hours to the industry as a whole, to her family that she loves, and to the charitable causes that are important to her.

On behalf of everyone at Brokers Clearing House (and I am quite confident I can be assumptive here) as well as many others who have been inspired and empowered by Barb over the years, we want you to know that we are very proud of you. We hope to continue the longstanding tradition you’ve helped build and to make you proud.